Fastening device.



Patented July 30, IQUI. M. S. WALKER.

FASTENING DEVICE.

(Application filed Jan. 28, 1901,]

(No Model.)

lllllll THE norms vmzns on. PHmournu. WASHINGTON u. a

UNiTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MYRON S. XVALKER, OF EVART, MICHIGAN.

FASTENING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 679,652, dated July 30, 1901. Application filed January 28, 1901. Serial No. 45,084 (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MYRON S. WALKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Evart, in the county of Osceola and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Fastening Device for Hitching-Straps, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in hitching devices, and more particularly t0 the means forsecuring a strap or rope about a post or to a stall.

One object of the invention is to provide an article arranged to be secured to one portion of a strap and adapted to engage another portion and clamp it at any desirable point, thus providing a variable adjustment, as distin guished from those buckles having tongues which engage in openings arranged at certain determinate distances apart, and can therefore hold a strap only at certain predetermined points.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the device that the harder an animal pulls upon the strap the tighter will the device engage therewith, and yet when desired will permit of its easy and ready disengagement, and when in this latter relation it will permit the ready passage of the strap in either direction.

To the accomplishment of these and other objects the construction described in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings is preferred; but it will be understood that this construction is open to change and modification, provided they are within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved device. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the same applied to a strap that passes around a post, the device being in its unlocked position. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating the device in locked engagement with the strap. Fig. t is a plan view of the device. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the locking-tongue.

Similar numerals of reference designate similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the invention as shown a frame 1 is provided, comprising a pair of rectangular loops 2 and 3, connected by side arms 4. Each of these loops 2 and 3 is divided by a transverse partition 2 and 3 to form the openings 2 2 and 3 3, respectively. A transverse bar 5 connects the side bars 4 intermediate their ends, said bar having an upstanding stud 6, which preferably inclines slightly toward one end of the frame.

Pivotally secured to the side arms 4 is the locking-tongue 7. This tongue is provided along its free end with a gripping edge 8, that extends the entire width of the frame and is formed by the intersection of the two beveled faces 9 and 10. Projecting ears 11 are arranged at the opposite ends of the edge 8, said ears forming guides and also finger-grips for operating the tongue. It will be observed that the tongue is arranged closer to the loop 3 than the loop 2, so that when it is swung toward the former it will grip a strap passing between it and said loop 2, but when swung in the other direction the gripping edge 8 falls short of the inner edge of the loop 2 and the tongue will rest upon the arms 4, as shown in Fig. 2.

In connection with the above-described device and for the purpose of illustrating the operation and application of the same there are illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 a hitching strap 12 and post 13. The device is secured to the strap by having said strap passed through the openings 2 and 3 and over the bar 5, the stud 6 of said bar engaging in a suitable opening for the purpose in the strap. One end 14 of the strap is secured to the animal to be held. The other or free end 15 is passed about the post 13 and through the openings 3 and 2". The loop thus formed in the strap is then drawn tightly about the post. This can be easily accomplished, as the locking-tongue will take the position shown in Fig. 2 and permit the ready passage of the strap through the frame. When this has been accomplished, the locking-tongue 7 is turned to the position shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the gripping edge 8 will bite the strap and said strap will be tightly clamped between the edge of the loop 3 and the tongue. In this position, therefore, the strap is securely locked against retrograde movement, and the more an animal pulls upon it the tighter will be such engagement. At the same time by IOC loosening the free end 15 of the strap the tongue 7 may be readily moved from its co acting relation with the loop 3, and this may be accomplished by grasping the ears 11,- arranged in convenient position for that purpose. Should it be desirable to shorten the strap between the animal and the post, the stud 6 can be disengaged from the same and the device slid to the desired position and again engaged.

By the above construction several important advantages are obtained. In the first placethere are no knots to be tied and untied or perhaps cut. The length of the strap may also be readily adjusted as desired. Perhaps the most important advantage, however, resides in the manner of securing the free end of the strap. By the use of the gripping tongue the strap can never be drawn so tightly but that it may be readily released, and when in its inoperative position, which it will assume upon the forward movement of the free end of the strap, it is completely out of the way and will permit the strap to be passed through the frame in either direction. A still further advantage resides in providing the gripping edge the entire width of the frame, as the strain is thus distributed across the entire strap, as distinguished from abuckle-tongue,which engages the strap only at an intermediate portion.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein'described invention will be apparent to: those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, pro ortion, and minor details of construction may he resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim I 1.- In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame having transverse loops at its ends through which a strap is passed, of a tongue pivoted to the frame and having a free swinging movement between the loops, the pivot being nearer one loop than the other, said tongue having a transversely-disposed clamping edge that engages the inner face of the strap and clamps it against the edge of the nearer loop but is ar ranged to drop beneath the edge of the other loop to disengage the strap and permit of the free passage of the same through said loops.

2. In an article of the class described, the combination with a frame comprising a pair of transverse end loops connected by opposite side bars, said side bars being connected by an intermediate cross-bar having an upstanding stud, of a locking-tongue pivoted to intermediate portions of the side bars and closer to one loop than the other, said tongue being provided with a clamping edge extending substantially the width of the frame and arranged to coact with said nearer loop to form a clamp in which a strap passed through the frame is adapted to be held, said tongue being furthermore arranged to be'swung below the plane of the outer edge of the other loop with its gripping edge disengaged from the strap to permit of the ready movement of the same through the frame.

3. In adevice of the class described, the combination with a frame having transverse loops at the ends thereof through which the strap is passed, of a tongue pivoted to the frame and having a free swinging movement between the loops, the pivot being nearer one loop than the other, said tongue having a transversely-disposed clamping edge at its outer end, said edge being of a width substantially equal to the width of the opening through the loop, and provided at its ends with outstanding guide-ears that project beyond the outer face of the strap and consti-' tu'te operating fingers, the clamping edge being arranged to engage the under side of the strap and clamp it against theedge of the nearer loop and adapted to drop beneath the edge of the other loop to disengage the strap and permit of the free passage of the same through said loops.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame having transverse loops at its ends through which the strap is passed, said strap being located on both sides of the frame, of a stud rigidly mounted on the frame and projecting from one side there of, said stud maintaining a fixed relation to the loops and engaging the portion of the strap on one side of the frame, and a movable tongue pivotally mounted on the side of the frame which is opposite said stud and coacting with one of the loops to clamp the portion of the strap which is on said opposite side of the frame.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MYRON S. WALKER.

Witnesses:

W. D. WELCH, G. M, WELcH. 

